Apparatus for reshaping hams



June J H. APPLETON APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING nus Filed Feb. 20. 1926 3 Shuts-Shoot 1 June 9 J. H. APPLETON APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING RAMS Filed Feb. 20. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 Z8 g9 Z7 61 j: 35 g5 17 7 1 V i '35 M 16 'Y: 33 J9 J3 E 1555 :2

m J ZZZ June 21, 1927. J H. APPLETON 1,633,157

APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING mus Filed Feb. 20, 1926 a Shuts-Sheet 3 60 16 fizz/91351: M17555: 8 J n I Patented June 21, 19 27. 2 6

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. APPLETON, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIED PACKERS, INC.,

' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

I APPARATUS FOR RESHAPING HAMS. Application filed February 20, 1926. Serial No. 89,538.

. The invention has to do withthe re-shaptions are colnposcd of a large number of ing of hams, or other smoked joint meats, stiff wire ribs which extend circumferenin accordance with either the Hawkinson tially of the sections in spaced relation to method, which is set forth in Patent 1,533,- each other, being loosely looped around the z. 6 18, or the Cushman method, which isset hinging rod 14 to effect pivotal engagement 6o forth in the pending application of Arthur with the same, and being fixedly looped TV. Cushman, Serial No. 81,10 1, filed Januaround other reinforcing rods 16. The tree ary 13, 1926. ends 17 of the ribs 15 extending from the The object of the invention'is to provide rods 16 are more or less straight, so that,

suitable packing house equipment with when the rods 16 ofthe two sections are which the re-shaping of hams, or other brought towards each other in closing the smoked jointmeats, may be efiiciently accontainer, the ends 17 Will lap with each m lighgi' other to any desired extent without inter- One'form of equipment embodyingthe in-- :tering with the rods 16. The ribs 15 of one i vention is herein presented, but such form section are arranged in staggered relation I is to be considered merely as an OXGITlPllfiCflto those of the other section, and small tion, and is not to be construed as limiting spacer rings 18 are positioned on the rod 1 1 the invention short of its true and intended between the looped ends of adjoining ribs.

scope as defined in the appended claims. The container is held closed by two or 23 1' In the accompanying drawings: more latching devices 19, each of which in- Fig. 1 is a side View of the container, eludes an elongated member 20 which is of in closed position on a ham; angular form and is apertured at one end Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, when to fit loosely about and pivot on the rod open 16 of one section. The member 20 is fiat,

Fig. 3 is another end view of the same, being preferably formed of sheet metal, and to when closed; 1S slitted at the aperture in order to permit Fig. 41 1s a View of a ham before being one side of the apertured portion to be ire-shaped; sprung sufficiently to encompass the rod 16. Fig. 5 is another View of the same ham Along extension 21 is provided on the mem- 30 after being re-shaped; I ber 20, and a friction clamp 22 is slidably 55 Fig. 6 is an end view of the press, lining mounted on the extension. The clamp 22 members and container, when open; may be shifted bodily to any desired posi- Fig. 7 is another end View of the same, tion along the extension 21 when maintained wh n los d; in a perpendicular position relative to the 35 Fig. 8 is a View of the lining vmembers for same, but will bind tightly on the extension the press; and become immovable in one direction Fig. 9 is a similar view of other lining when tilted into an angular position rela members interchangeable with those shown two to the same. The end or the extension 'm Fig. 8; 21 is upset to form a limiting abutment for 4-0 Fig. 10 is a side view of the press, lining the clamp. The free end of the clamp 22 5 members and container; and u, is curved to form a book 23 for engagement Fig. 11 is a top view of the same. with the rod 16 of the other section, and,

The equipment illustrated in thedrawings When'the container has been closed to the consists of. a container 10, a press 11 for desired extent about a ham, the member 20 4 drawing, the container up about a ham, and I is swung into aposition with the hook of a pair of lining members 12 for adapting the clamp adjacent the rod 16 of the other the press to containers of different sizes. section, and the end of the clamp opposite The invention resides particularly in. the the hook is returned along the extension as construction of the container. far as possible when in a tilted position with 50 The containeris of cylindrical form, and the hook in engagement with the rod, consists of two, complementary sections 13. whereupon the clamp will bind on the ex- ;The sections. are semi-cylindrical in form, tension and will prevent separation of the and are hinged to a rod 14 which extends sections of the container when the external longitudinally between adjoining edges of pressure applied thereto is released,

" the sections. The body portions of the 'sec- The press consists of two curved platens 2-l which are pivotally mounted to swing toward and away from each other about a common axis Two arms 26 extend upwardly from the platens. and are bifurcated to receive two blocks 27. The blocks 27 are plYOttlllj mounted in the bifurcated portions of the arms 26 and are interiorl'y screwthrcaded to engage with right and left hand threads 28 and 29 on a rotatable rod 30. A hand crank 31 is secured to one end of the rod 30, and. when rotated in one direction, moves the blocks 27 with the arms 26 and platens 2-l toward each other.

The container is placed open in the press, as shown in Figs. 6, l and 11. and the ham or other smoked joint meat to be re-shaped is in turn placed in the container. The container, instead of being positioned with the two sections thereor in direct peripheral contact with the platens of the press. is supported upon two lining members 32 which have substantially the same curvature as the sections of the container. The members 32 extend throughout the length of the platens, and are seated against the platens in such manner as to be readily removable therefrom, being supported against the curved faces of the platens by inturned shoulders 33, and being hooked over the free margins oi the platens by flanges 3%. The purpose of the lining members 32 is to adapt a single press to worl: in connection with containers of different sizes. F or medium sized hams, a container would be used of a size readily accommodated by the lining members 32; for large sized hams, a larger container would be used, and the lining members 32 would be removed from the press, permitting the container to bear directly against the platens; while for small sized hams, a smaller container would be used and lining members 32 would be substituted for the members 32, the members 32 fitting against and hooking about the platens 2% in substantially the same manner as the members 32. but being of greater curvature to conform with the smaller container.

ll hen the container is open in the press ready to receive a ham, the reinforcement rods 16 on the outer sides of the sections of the container hook over the corners 35 or 35 of the lining members 32 or 32, or the corners 36 of the platens when no lining members are used, and the sections of the container are as a consequence properly positioned within the press. lVhen the con tainer is open in the press, the latching de vices 19 carried by the rod 16 of one of the sections may he swung into an unobstructed position in recesses 37 which are formed in the ppcr margins of the lining members and platens for that purpose. The container. when drawn up about a ham to reshape the same. may be suspended from a suitable support by means of a bail 38.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a substantially cylindrical container consisting of two hinged sections, each of which is substantially semi-cylindrical and is composed of a plurality of circumterentially extending stiff wire ribs which lap opposite the hinging axis with the ribs 01 the other section in crossed relation to the same and in such a way as to maintain a gradual curvature of the inside of the container at the point of crossing when the container is closed.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a tubular container consisting of two hinged sections, each of which is composed of a plurality of circumferential1y extending still wire ribs which are staggered relative to the ribs of the other section and lap opposite the hinging axis with such ribs in crossed relation to the same when the container is closed, and means for latching the parts of the sections opposite the hinging axis together in a number 01 positions, whereby to permit of variation in the cross-sectional area of the container.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a tubular container consisting of a longitudinally extending hinge rod, a plurality of still wire ribs pivoted at corresponding ends to the rod with alternate ribs extending circumferentially from "the same in one direction and intermediate ribs extending circumferentially from the same in the opposite direction into crossed relation with said alternate ribs at a point opposite the hinge rod, means for holding the ribs in each of the oppositely extending sets in lixed relation to each other, and means for latching the parts of the sections opposite the hinging axis together in a number of positions whereby to permit of variation in the crosssectional area of the container.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a tubular container consisting of a longitudinally extending hinge rod. a plurality of still wire ribs pivoted at corresponding ends to the rod with alternate ribs extending circumferentially from the same in one direction and intermediate ribs extending circumferentially from the same in the opposite direction, rings positioned on the hinge rod between the ends of the ribs for spacing the ribs relative to each other, and means for holding the ribs in each of the oppositely extending sets in fixed relation to each other.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a tubular container consisting of a longitudinally extending hinge rod, a plurality of stitl wire ribs pivoted at corresponding ends to therod with alternate ribs extending circumferentially from the rod in one direction and intermediate ribs extending circumferentially from the rod in the opposite direca tubular container tion, two longitudinally extending reinforcement rods to one of which all the ribs extending in one direction are secured and to the other of which all the ribs extending in the opposite direction are secured, and latching means carried by one of said rods and engageable with the other to maintain'the container in adjustably closed position.

6. In apparatus of the character described, consisting of two hinged sections, and means for latching the sections together, comprising a member carried by one section and having an extension, and a hook slidably mounted on the extension for engagement with the other section, said hook sliding freely along the extension when perpendicular thereto, but binding thereon. against movement in one direction when tilted from a perpendicular position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my nam e. JOSEPH H. APPLETON. 

